PlayStation Portal will be the trade name for the device we previously knew as ‘Project Q’. As we knew (and feared) It will be “just” a PS5 peripheral which will allow users to play remotely while connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Sony misses a good opportunity to re-enter the portable console market, which at the time had to be abandoned due to declining sales due to smartphone competition for on-the-go gaming. Today the situation is different and models like the Steam Deck (plus ASUS Ally, AYA or ONE from China and of course the Nintendo Switch) have shown that there is a market for handheld gaming machines. And there are others on the way as interesting as the Lenovo Legion Go.

Don’t get us wrong; PlayStation Portal isn’t bad for the price, and the first review says a good controller, but it leaves out players who don’t have a PlayStation 5.

PlayStation Portal, Specs

Sony’s announcement doesn’t say anything we don’t already know, other than availability and price. It’s a device based on the DualSense wireless controller. Newly designed but replicates the functionality and features of the official driver.

It features adaptive triggers, a feature that provides different levels of resistance based on in-game action to create an immersive experience, as well as haptic feedback that simulates tactile sensations and provides subtle vibrations that match in-game events.

The screen was familiar too. Yippee 8 inch LCD diagonal that can display content with a resolution of up to 1080p and a frame rate of 60 fps. It includes a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting to wired audio systems and is compatible with PlayStation Link technology for connecting wireless audio devices from Sony, Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore.

It is not a standalone device. As we’ve been saying for a few months now, the PlayStation Portal will only be able to run games that are already installed on the PS5 console. And for this, it must be connected to the same Wi-Fi wireless network that the console is connected to.

This peripheral is not compatible with virtual reality games that work with PS VR2, as well as games streamed through the PlayStation Plus cloud service, limiting compatibility to specific PS5 titles. Data on other important parameters such as autonomy were not provided.

Availability and price

PlayStation Portal will be available in the last quarter of 2023 (we assume in time for the important Christmas campaign) and at the official price $199.99. PS5 owners will love it and its price is not high, but we expected something different: an independent handheld device… Steam Deck, but with PlayStation games that follow the path of the PlayStation Portable we enjoyed 20 years ago.